India A's first-innings batting collapse came back to haunt them as Australia A moved ahead of the visitors after setting a target of 225 on the third day of the first 'Unofficial Test' in Mackay in Australia on Saturday. The home side were 139 for three at stumps and needed another 86 runs for victory as the Indian bowlers could not get enough wickets to put pressure on the Australians in their second essay. Captain Nathan McSweeney and Beau Webster hit 47 and 19 respectively at the end of the match.
McSweeney, one of the top contenders to clinch the vacant opener's slot in the Australian team for the big Test series against India, forged an unbroken 54-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Webster after Australia A slumped to 85 for three .
India were all out for 312 in their second innings, a much better batting display than their forgettable performance on the first day, when they crumbled for 107.
Sai Sudharsan (103) resumed the day on 96 and duly completed his century but Devdutt Padikkal fell for 88, adding just eight runs to his overnight total of 80 after building a partnership of 196 runs for the third wicket with the former had choked.
India started the day at 208 for two.
The Australian bowlers, led by pacer Fergus O'Neill (4/55) and off-spinner Todd Murphy (3/77), fought back by taking the two big wickets in quick succession and after that the visiting batters failed to show enough . application to expand their lead.
Sudharsan was the first to depart, after attempting an extended cover drive off Murphy's bowling.
Padikkal was trapped in front of the wicket by Murphy 13 balls later, after the batsman went on the back foot to tackle the off-spinner.
Flamboyant keeper-batsman Ishan Kishan walked to the middle and he looked in the mood as he played some impressive shots, including pulling O'Neill for a six.
However, Ishan got out quickly and was caught at second slip by Cameron Bancroft off O'Neill's bowling. Ishan made 32 off 58 balls during his stay in the middle, during which he was dropped on 21.
Nitish Kumar Reddy (17) was also reprieved but he threw away his wicket by driving Beau Webster's low full toss back to the bowler as India A extended their lead to 199 runs.
Fast bowler Navdeep Saini scored 18 runs as India A's lead pushed past 220.
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